Update from Agata!

So does everyone remember our lovely and talented Agata Lis??! Sure ya do, she joined AIESEC last semester and she came with us to NLDC. Well...in case you're THAT out of the loop, Agata is now working in AIESEC at a more international level as the VP External Relations for the Central and Eastern Europe Growth Network!!! She left in May or June for beautiful Budapest, Hungary (where she works) and she's been having a blast ever since, here's what she has to say about her experience:

~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey @ Vic!

Sorry for being so terrible at keeping in touch with our LC! Settling in, finishing transition, and preparing for IC has kept me more than busy! Still, that's no excuse and I will be better at keeping you guys updated on what is going on.

Work here is absolutely AMAZING. I have learned so much in the past two months - probably more than my four years at UVic! I've learned about a lot of the AIESEC processes, such as building competencies or facilitating a conference -- so it's definitely structured and "institutionalized" all the bits of information I have learned over the past few years.

For the past two months I've been setting up my infrastructure to start selling AIESEC at a regional level. I've had the opportunity to spend one week working with the AI team in Rotterdam. It is absolutely INSANE how organized everything is and how efficient and structured the processes are. I was especially lucky to work with the ER Director and his team. I also found myself at the AI transition party which was a brilliant experience.

In two weeks time, I will be heading over to Warsaw, Poland for IC, where I have a few seminars to facilitate at the pre-meeting. I was put in charge of facilitating "CEE Spirit" at IC, so I better brush up on the AIESEC dances and cheers! Good thing you guys taught me a thing or two!

As for social life - most of it has been AIESEC related, of course! Matt, from our LC came to visit a few weeks ago. My roommate and work colleague, Ines, has quite a background with our LC, since she's worked with three people from it. She's from LC Zagreb and was PD on the Croatian MC. I've also met many trainees in Budapest and have been hanging out with their MC team.

Last week I was on the Croatian coast for a conference there and my two friends were visiting from Victoria. We had a blast. I highly recommend finding ANY excuse to go to Croatia!

This week is the huge annual Sziget Festival in Budapest, where it's major bands on Sziget Island for a whole week. Ines and I have a few friends visiting, and some of the former AI team is in town.

Overall, I'm having such a blast and I'm keeping very busy. Work is challenging, the summer has been great, and it seems like things are going to get even busier and even more fun in the near future.

How are you guys doing? How are the new trainees? Did everyone from my review board end up going on an exchange? Any cool new projects you're working on? Prepping for the new semester? Say hi to everyone and please pass on the update!

Take care! I will contact you guys after IC!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Wow so great to see that you've got the @ lingo down now Agata! What have we been up to over here? A WHOLE bunch of craziness really, we're slowly introducing the Canadian and BC 'culture' to our CEEDer(Ferry) and intern (Celso). We'll have to blog about it soon. In the next few months more interns are coming in from Ecuador, Turkey and Hungary so it'll be exciting!

Keep up the good work and I hope you keep the @ Vic spirit goin over there! Teach the entire CEE the coconut dance!!